Manage High Blood Pressure With The DASH Diet

What you eat can help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk for stroke and heart disease.

One such diet, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, has been shown to reduce blood pressure. This diet is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and total fat. The diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products.

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According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), your blood pressure can be unhealthy even if it stays only slightly above 120/80 mm Hg. The higher above that level, the greater your health risk. Over time, high blood pressure makes your heart work too hard. This can cause stroke, hardening of the arteries, heart failure, kidney disease, and even blindness.

Why this diet works

Why is the DASH diet so effective at reducing blood pressure?

It combines many nutrients that have been shown to be beneficial in reducing blood pressure. Those nutrients include calcium, potassium, magnesium, protein, and fiber, as well as lower total fat and saturated fat.

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Further, following the DASH diet may delay your need to take hypertension medication, and may even keep you from needing to take it at all. And if you’re already on medication, it may help you reduce the amount you take.

Doing the DASH

The DASH diet is a 2,000-calorie diet that includes:

Six to 8 daily servings of grains and grain products, such as whole wheat bread, cereal, oatmeal, crackers, unsalted pretzels, and popcorn. A serving size is 1 slice of bread, 1 cup of ready-to-eat cereal, or a half-cup of rice, pasta, or cereal.

Four to 5 daily servings of vegetables — the darker in color, the better. A serving size is 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables, a half-cup of cooked vegetables, or 6 ounces of vegetable juice.

Four to 5 daily servings of fruit. A serving is 1 medium fruit, quarter-cup of dried fruit, half-cup of fresh, frozen or canned fruit, or 6 ounces of fruit juice.

Two or 3 daily servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy products. A serving is 8 ounces of milk, 1 cup of yogurt, or 1½ ounces of cheese.

Six or fewer daily servings of lean meat, poultry, or fish. A serving is 1 ounce of cooked meats, skinless poultry, or fish.

Four to 5 servings per week of nuts, seeds, and dry beans. A serving is one-third cup or 1½ ounces of nuts, 1 tablespoon or half-ounce of seeds, or half-cup cooked dried beans.